All posts by h716a5.icu

Surrey seek home comforts as Blaze, Bears challenge in inaugural Women's Blast Finals Day

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Favourites booked automatic place in final at Kia Oval, after one loss in group stages

Valkerie Baynes26-Jul-2025With a home T20 World Cup just a year away, the inaugural Vitality Blast Women’s Finals Day offers an enticing stage for international and domestic aspirants alike.Surrey are the favourites on their home ground, especially as they are direct entrants to Sunday’s final, having lost just once all season (alongside a rain-affected tie with Essex). The team that beat them, however, are The Blaze, who take on the Bears in the semi-final.Bryony Smith, Surrey’s captain, is looking for a big score this season, having played 13 games for 225 runs at 17.30 with a strike rate of 125.00 and highest score of 44. But she knows she has it in her after a 33-ball 62 in a winning England Development XI against India, which acted as a warm-up to the international tour, which concluded on Tuesday.And while it won’t be at the forefront of her mind this weekend, Smith has set her sights on next year’s T20 World Cup as an opportunity to break into the senior England side. She played one ODI against West Indies way back in 2019 and 10 T20Is sporadically between 2018 and the tour of Ireland last September.Related

Kathryn Bryce stars as Blaze get back to winning ways

Surrey clinch Finals Day place defending 132 at The Blaze

Davina Perrin stars as Bears book spot at Finals Day

Chathli takes command as Surrey outmuscle Bears

Kelly, Boyce provide Blaze base for solid victory

“I feel like I’ve not had a real go at it yet,” Smith said. “I’ve been in and out of squads over the years, had that Ireland tour, but only ended up playing two games. So I see myself looking forward to the T20 World Cup next summer and that’s something I’m going to aim for.”I’m getting on with things here at Surrey and if England come calling that would be great but if not, we’ve got a good enough set-up here to play loads of games, so I’m happy doing that.”Danni Wyatt-Hodge, recruited by Surrey this season from the now-defunct Southern Vipers, is the third-highest run-scorer in the competition with 372 at 62.00 and a strike rate of 158.29. She racked up five half-centuries from eight games, played around her duties with England’s T20I side, with a best of 74 not out.Wyatt-Hodge was left out of England’s ODI squad this summer with a World Cup looming in October, and it won’t only be national head coach Charlotte Edwards who might be keeping an eye on Surrey’s gun fielder with a view to strengthening that department.”We’ve seen what Danni Wyatt-Hodge has done for us throughout the comp,” Smith said. “She played the first eight games for us and was leading run-scorer and to have her in your team is massive, not just with the bat but with the field as well.”She’s new to us this year but she’s fitted in so well and she loves batting here at The Oval, so we’re excited to see what happens.”Sarah Bryce and Kathryn Bryce were instrumental in the Blaze’s victory in last year’s Charlotte Edwards Cup, the previous T20 women’s competition•Getty ImagesThe hosts qualified for Finals Day when they defended 132 for 9 to beat The Blaze on July 11, Ryana MacDonald-Gay and Kalea Moore taking two wickets each to restrict The Blaze to 122 for 5 despite an unbeaten fifty from Kathryn Bryce.And while the win was arguably more gritty than pretty, Surrey got the job done and Smith believes her side’s all-round strength and depth has been their best asset.”We’ve had to use a lot of players so far this comp with England duties and England A girls away as well, so it’s been a real squad effort,” Smith said. “We’ve got top-class players throughout the order and we have that real trust in each other to go out and play your own game, no matter what the situation.”Some of the scores we’ve produced, we back ourselves to chase anything, and then we’ve got the bowlers and the fielders to back that up as well. We’ve been able to protect low scores.”You see that Blaze game… our fielders pretty much won us that game. We’ve got an all-round package and that closeness within the group is something that we really rely on.”The Blaze and Bears have won eight games each this season but the Bears have five losses against them compared to The Blaze’s two. The sides tied in the opening match of the season while the Bears won by 25 runs in the return fixture.The Bears boast the competition’s second-highest run-scorer, Davina Perrin, and the second-leading wicket-taker in left-arm wrist-spinner Millie Taylor with 19 at 16.10 and an economy rate of 7.46 with best figures of 3 for 13. Bryce is third on the wicket-taker’s list with 17 at 14.82 and 6.66 with a best of 4 for 13.Surrey defeated Warwickshire in a dead rubber in their final match of the regular season with Kira Chathli striking a timely half-century during a second-wicket stand of 93 with big-hitting Australian Grace Harris.That was before Harris’s sister, Laura, responded with a 42 off just 14 balls, although Surrey’s bowlers swung the match back in their favour to claim the upper hand ahead of the season’s showcase.

Pathum Nissanka is raising his bar one notch at a time

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Since the start of his career, he has had to put his game together brick by brick, improving at every step

Andrew Fidel Fernando17-Sep-2025Pathum Nissanka remembers being around cricket from his earliest years. “I’ve been playing since I was in year one or year two,” he says, the game as present and natural a feature of his life as the brooding Kalu Ganga (black river), which meets the Indian Ocean in his home town of Kalutara.He had had this cricket-soaked childhood because his father, Sunil Silva, was then a groundsman at the biggest club in town. “It was my who inspired that love in me,” Nissanka says. “He taught me how to hold a bat. He was my first coach.” His mother, Geethika, used to sell flowers outside Kalutara’s famous Buddhist temple; theirs was not a family of great means. But what they did have was this burning desire to make their talented son a cricketer.In addition to the early trainings and sweltering afternoons that form the bedrock of a burgeoning cricketing life, Nissanka was forever facing throwdowns from his father at home or at the club ground. It was there, or so the story goes, that a serious work ethic developed. It is this tirelessness that has set him apart.Related

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Although he was precocious, Nissanka’s rise through Sri Lanka’s system was gradual. He started at as good a cricketing school as the city could offer, Kalutara Vidyalaya, which produced TM Dilshan. But its First XI still played in a Division II competition that was holding back Nissanka’s development. Eventually he was scouted by Isipathana College and moved there – a fancy-ish Colombo institution but one better known for its rugby. When he graduated to senior domestic cricket, he spent a couple of seasons at Badureliya Sports Club before moving to the better-resourced Nondescripts Cricket Club.At no rung on this ladder did Nissanka attract big hype. Few whispers were heard about his being Sri Lanka’s next great batter. No social-media campaigns of note aimed to propel him into the national side. No selectors backed his promise and carried him into a national squad on a palanquin, as they had done others. Nissanka was required to put his game together stage by stage, often adding attacking elements to what he says was always a robust defensive technique.Before he made his debut for Sri Lanka in 2021, Nissanka strung together two first-class seasons in which he averaged around 90, raising his overall first-class average to an outstanding 67.54. On that maiden 2021 tour of West Indies, he became the first Sri Lankan batter in 20 years to make a hundred on Test debut. In that innings he was scoreless in his first 20 balls, and on 18 off his first 70.

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Nearly three quarters of the way through 2025, it is possible we are seeing the rise of Sri Lanka’s first space-age, three-format batter. No other specialist batter who came up in the T20 age has quite made it across formats. Nissanka opens the batting in all three. Since 2024, he has put up serious numbers.In Tests he averages 51.20 in that period. No opener in the world with 400 runs in that stretch averages as much. In ODIs he averages 48.47 with a strike rate of 98. In T20Is, he’s hit 970 runs at a strike rate of 142.Among other things, Nissanka has refurbished his game square of the wicket on both sides•Zimbabwe CricketIt has become clear through this period that Nissanka has spent his four years in international cricket developing and honing fresh skills. It is his attacking game he has expanded the most. It took being dropped from ODIs for six months, at the back end of 2021, for him to realise what the next stage of his development needed to be.”After my first nine one-dayers, my average was down at nine-something [9.55],” Nissanka says. “I knew then that I needed to do more than that for the team, and had to find ways to improve. So I started training more than usual. I trained pretty much every day, and batted three or four times a day.”Having done the hard work of breaking through to the next level so many times, Nissanka knew the drill. The first step was to identify what his game lacked. For the first time, he had access to Sri Lanka Cricket’s coaching and analysis resources.”I looked at what my weak points were, and which areas I wasn’t getting many runs in. I analysed all that, and had some idea of how to change my game so I could put the ball in those areas.”My back-foot punch wasn’t in a good place previously. I would play it, but I didn’t get many runs from it. My slash also needed to improve. When you’re up against the new ball and it’s swinging, you need to have these shots to score off. I worked really hard on those shots, and practised them constantly.”The data shows significant improvement. Where until the end of 2022, Nissanka struck at only 105 in the sectors immediately adjacent to point on either side in T20Is, since the start of 2024 (we’re excluding 2023, as the main transition year), he has struck at 132 through that region.There was also general power-hitting work, and strength-building in the gym. Where until the end of 2022 he used to hit a six once every 37 balls, he has cleared the rope once every 25.29 balls, since 2024. The fours have also come at a substantially faster clip – he hits one once every 6.1 balls since 2024, when until the end of 2022, he’d hit one every 9.97 deliveries.

While the improvements on the off side have been good, that leap in boundary frequency likely has more to do with more dominant leg-side play.”The pull shot is also really important if you’re an opening batter,” Nissanka says. “Usually you are facing fast bowlers at the top of the order, and you need to have that option.”He had always been strong behind square on the leg side, but Nissanka now pulls more confidently in front of square. Where until the end of 2022 he used to pull only 8.32% of deliveries faced in T20Is, after 2024 he pulls 14.64%. And where he used to strike at 164 with the pull, since 2024 he strikes at 233 with that same shot – a huge improvement. To sum this up: Nissanka plays the pull both more often and substantially better than he used to, and the cumulative impact on his scoring through the leg side has been spectacular. Where he once struck at 162 when putting the ball square on the leg side (either just in front of square or just behind), he now strikes at 210 when the ball goes in that region. It has become his most productive zone.

In his 68 off 44 against Hong Kong in the current Asia Cup, without which Sri Lanka would likely have lost, Nissanka showcased two other neat tricks he has picked up over the years. One is the lap scoop he played in the 14th over, getting down on one knee to lift a full delivery from a seamer over short fine leg. The second he disclosed in the post-match press conference. Asked if his back was okay, given the team physio had run out to treat him during the course of that innings (Nissanka has had recurring back injuries in his career), he replied: “No, I was a little tired at that time, so I did that to take a little break.” A mischievous grin split his face in two.In four years at the top level, he has made the kinds of incremental advances that have often eluded young Sri Lanka batters at the international level. But there is a distance to go yet. Although he has been good since last year, that T20I strike rate in particular could use a little prodding forward. While he has found recent success in this format, he is yet to light up a big tournament. If Sri Lanka reach the Asia Cup’s Super Four and beyond, Nissanka will have the opportunity to unfurl his new skills against high-profile opposition. Beyond that, next year’s T20 World Cup beckons.He still takes his father’s advice on board. Although he now has access to all the cricketing resources his nation has to offer, ” still makes some good points, and I take what I can from them,” he says. Thanks in part to their relationship, Nissanka knows this too is only a stage in the journey he has been on since as far back as he can remember. There is always another step to take, another rung to reach for.

Seifert hits joint-fastest CPL ton as Kings chase 205 on a canter

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Seifert’s 125 is also the second-highest score ever in the CPL, while Kings’ chase was the fifth-highest ever in the competition

ESPNcricinfo staff31-Aug-2025A stunning century from Tim Seifert helped St Lucia Kings pull off the fifth-highest chase in Caribbean Premier League (CPL) history with utter ease as they marched to the top of the table with a six-wicket win over Antigua and Barbuda Falcons at Gros Islet.Seifert levelled with Andre Russell for the CPL’s fastest century as his 53-ball 125 not out saw Kings overturn their 205-run in 17.5 overs as Falcons slumped to their second consecutive defeat, despite a 26-ball 61 from Shakib Al Hasan.Seifert started the chase in style, flat-batting the first legal delivery of the innings for a six over long-off. Imad Wasim conceded another six, to Johnson Charles, as Kings made their intent clear in the first over.Charles then welcomed Jayden Seales into the attack with a six before Seifert went 6, 4, 4 against the West Indies quick.There was some reprieve for Falcons when Salman Irshad had Charles gloving behind off an attempted scoop but Seifert showed no signs of slowing down.He swept Shakib for a six over square leg before skying a chance that fell safe between three fielders converging, much to Shakib’s angst.Akeem Auguste hit Irshad for three consecutive fours before Seales took 24 off Shakib, with two sixes and three fours. The 92 runs Kings plundered in the powerplay were the most in the season, and it was the third-best powerplay in CPL history.Tim Seifert plays a shot during his opening blitz•Getty ImagesUsama Mir saw Seifert hit him for a four and a six in his first over, right after the powerplay, but hit back in his next over when he beat Auguste in flight to have him stumped.Seifert and Roston Chase kept the scoreboard ticking before Irshad took a blinder at short leg off Odean Smith to cut Chase’s innings short.However, in the next over Seifert hit back-to-back sixes off Mir to move to 99 and completed his century with a single off the next ball.Tim David went 6, 4, 6 off Smith before Seales had him caught at deep midwicket in a wicket maiden amid the chaos.Seifert, who had scooped Irshad in the over before for four, picked up another boundary off Seales’ third over before sealing the win with a mighty six off the final ball.Seifert finished unbeaten on 125, posting the highest score of the season, going past his compatriot Colin Munro, who is the only other centurion this year. This was also the second-highest score ever in the CPL.Openers Amir Jangoo and Jewel Andrew took Falcons to 51 for no loss at the end of the powerplay, but Tabraiz Shamsi’s introduction shifted the momentum briefly. He had Andrew skying one off his first ball before drawing a thick edge from Karima Gore and Roston Chase took a good catch at slip to send the in-form batter back for a first-ball duck.Shakib Al Hasan powered Falcons’ innings•CPLShakib prevented the hat-trick by sweeping a loosener fine on the leg side before an edge off a reverse-sweep brought him four more next ball.An 18-ball streak followed without a boundary, but that was ended when Shakib hit back-to-back sixes off Chase to end the tenth over – a slog sweep over midwicket was followed by a wallop down the ground.Shakib hammered David Wiese for 25 runs, with three consecutive fours followed by two back-to-back sixes, the second of which saw him bring up a 20-ball half-century.Jangoo lofted Shamsi over long-off the next over before sweeping him fine on the leg side. Shakib’s shot of the day was when he pummeled Alzarri Joseph inside out for a one-handed six.But an offcutter from Delano Potgieter drew a leading edge from Shakib and one over later, Jangoo miscued a reverse-sweep off Shamsi to David at short third to depart for a 43-ball 56.Smith failed to fire in the death, ambling to 11 off 15, but Fabian Allen provided the punch at the death with a 17-ball 38, taking Falcons past 200.

Man City women's player ratings vs Everton: Khadija Shaw and Vivianne Miedema on target while Ayaka Yamashita stands tall to secure top spot in WSL

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Manchester City capitalised on Chelsea's draw with Arsenal 24 hours earlier to go top of the Women's Super League after a closely contested 2-1 victory over Everton on Sunday. The visitors were made to work for all three points, but good finishing by Vivianne Miedema and Khadija Shaw, coupled with some smart stops by Ayaka Yamashita in between the sticks, ensured City would leave Merseyside with the win.

City took the initiative early on and threatened to take the lead within moments of the game kicking off. Just two minutes in, the visitors should have gone ahead when a loose ball bounced kindly to Shaw six-yards out, but the Jamaican could only direct a low effort at Emily Ramsey in the Toffees’ net.

A Yamashita clearance would eventually lead to the opener 20 minutes in as the City attack found the key to unlocking the stubborn Everton defence. Making a run from midfield beyond Rion Ishikawa, Miedema was slipped in by the creative Iman Beney and curled low and beyond the onrushing Ramsey.

Despite City taking a 1-0 advantage, you could not write off Brian Sorensen’s side, and with five minutes to go until half-time, Rebecca Knaak misjudged a long ball over the top and was left deserted in the middle of the park. Toni Payne took advantage and carried the ball wide before whipping in a low cross to Kelly Gago who, with a spectacular back-heel, flicked the ball cleverly into the corner.

The half-time break allowed Andree Jeglertz to have a word with his players, and City began the second period with added impetus. Ten minutes after the interval, Leia Ouahabi’s efforts down the left were finally rewarded when Shaw met her cross to the back post and thundered a header past the helpless Ramsey.

Looking to put the game beyond doubt, Shaw’s class began to show and on the hour mark, the talismanic forward’s deft flick sent Miedema in behind, but the WSL’s record goal-scorer could only flash wide. The visitors were almost punished moments later when Ornella Vignola left Laura Blindkilde Brown and Gracie Prior for dead with a beautiful Cruyff-turn and smacked the upright with a vicious effort from distance.

The Everton pressure continued and Yamashita produced a stunning stop from Hikaru Kitagawa to prevent the hosts grabbing an equaliser.

GOAL rates City's players from Goodison Park…

Getty Images SportGoalkeeper & Defence

Ayaka Yamashita (8/10):

Read danger well and swept up passes sent through to Payne by Everton expertly. Made a number of top saves to resist the Toffees' pressure.

Kerstin Casparij (8/10):

The City captain worked tirelessly and was superb in attack and defence for the away side.

Jade Rose (7/10):

Was strong at the back and helped City maintain their lead in the closing stages. 

Rebecca Knaak (5/10):

Making her first appearance of the season, the German defender looked rusty and was caught out by Payne for Everton's goal.

Leila Ouahabi (8/10):

The left-back produced the winning assist for City when she chased down Fujino's pass.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportMidfield

Laura Blindkilde Brown (6/10):

Started well, but became overrun in the middle of the park when Everton grew into the game.

Yui Hasegawa (7/10):

As usual, Hasegawa was particularly tidy in midfield and helped City retain control late on.

Vivianne Miedema (7/10):

A constant threat with her intelligent runs into the box and took her goal well to give City the lead. Faded in the second-half.

Getty Images SportAttack

Iman Beney (7/10):

Provided a nice assist for Miedema's opener and was bright down the City right.

Khadija Shaw (8/10):

A menace for the Everton defenders and should have scored more than just the one. The striker's header proved to be the difference, but she will curse at least two chances that went begging.

Aoba Fujino (7/10):

The quietest of the City front-line, but never stopped running and almost set up Hemp for a late third.

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Subs & Manager

Gracie Prior (7/10):

Came on for the struggling Knaak and helped steady a previously shaky City defence.

Lauren Hemp (7/10):

Came on for the final 30 minutes and almost secured all three points with a late curling effort.

Sydney Lohmann (6/10):

Replaced Miedema to offer a more defensive option in midfield.

Grace Clinton (6/10):

Came on to carry the ball up the pitch when City were under pressure.

Andree Jeglertz (6/10):

The three points are most important, but the City boss will not be best pleased with how his side almost surrendered their spot at the top.

INEOS mean business: Man Utd planning Vinicius Junior move, price tag revealed

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Manchester United are now planning a move for Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior, amid the uncertainty surrounding his future at Spanish club.

Despite their struggles last season, Man United proved they still have pulling power in the summer transfer market, winning the race for the likes of Benjamin Sesko and Bryan Mbeumo, even though both forwards attracted interest from a number of clubs playing in Europe.

However, it has been a long time since United have been able to make a real statement signing in the transfer window by signing one of the world’s best players, given the decline since Sir Alex Ferguson retired at the end of the 2012-13 season.

It was recently revealed that Sir Jim Ratcliffe actually stepped in to prevent a move for FC Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski, despite Ruben Amorim being very keen to sign the Poland international.

The INEOS chairman has concerns about Lewandowski’s age and wage demands, which means the move wasn’t given the green light, despite the 37-year-old being regarded as one of the best strikers in the world.

Vinicius, on the other hand, is still in the prime of his career at 25-years-old, and the Red Devils have now joined the race for his signature…

Man Utd now planning move for Vinicius Junior

That is according to a report from Spain, which states Man United now intend to make a move for the Real Madrid forward if the opportunity comes up, with it emerging that his future at the Spanish club is up in the air.

The Brazilian’s contract is set to expire in 2027, meaning rumours of a possible departure are now swirling, amid widespread interest from some top clubs, with Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Manchester City also named as potential suitors.

However, United may have to shell out a massive fee to tempt the La Liga giants into a sale, with it recently being revealed they are unwilling to sanction a departure for less than €250m (£220m).

Having identified one of the best wingers in the world as a target, INEOS clearly mean business, and the left-winger’s goal catalogue alone suggests he could be capable of taking Man United’s forward line to the next level.

Throughout the 2024-25 campaign, the former Flamengo man was a constant threat in front of goal, chipping in with a whopping 41 goals and assists for Real Madrid in all competitions, finding the back of the net eight times in the Champions League.

Amorim will no doubt be pleased with his summer acquisitions in attack, with Mbeumo making an instant impact, bagging a brace in the 4-2 victory against Brighton & Hove Albion last time out, and Matheus Cunha is also now off the mark.

However, Vinicius Junior, who has been lauded as “spectacular” by journalist Tom Allnutt, is a proven top-level forward, and Man United should not pass up the chance to sign him if the opportunity arises.

Vinicius Junior is currently in the top 10 of the Ballon d'Or Power Rankings Ballon d'Or 2026 Power Rankings

Who will be lifting the individual honour in 2026?

ByCharlie Smith Nov 6, 2025

Phil Simmons: 'Coaching in 400 internationals means I have done something right'

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

The veteran looks back at his 20 years working as a cricket coach across the world – with teams including West Indies, Ireland, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and now Bangladesh

Interview by Mohammad Isam11-Dec-2024When Bangladesh play West Indies in the third ODI in St Kitts on December 12, it will be Phil Simmons’ 400th international in a 20-year coaching career. He looks back at the various teams he has coached and what he’s learned during his time with them.You are about to become the fourth coach, after Duncan Fletcher, Mickey Arthur and Dav Whatmore, to be in charge for 400 internationals. What does the milestone mean to you?
As far as cricket is concerned, I am not a numbers man. I can say that reaching 400 matches was a surprise. It wasn’t something that was in my mind when I started coaching. It is great to have reached the milestone. It means I have done something right.You are currently the Bangladesh coach on an interim basis. It is a team in transition, with its own set of complexities. How do you stay hungry after 20 years?
My hunger is determined by the ability of seeing improvement. It is a team in transition. They need some sort of stability and guidance, but also there’s a chance of improvement and success. It is my motivation. A chance to get success and improve people.Related

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You led West Indies to the 2016 T20 World Cup title. It was probably the highest point in your coaching career. Where do you rank the campaign?
It was an unbelievable campaign in the way we played the cricket. We had a bit of luck at times. Lendl Simmons being out and not out on a few occasions at the Wankhede [Lendl Simmons was twice caught off no-balls in the 2016 T20 World Cup semi-final against India] was one of them. The campaign was exciting throughout. We played really good cricket. We deserved to be winners at the end of the day. It was definitely the highest point I have reached in my coaching career.It all started in Zimbabwe in 2004. What were your initial days like? Why did you take up coaching?
I took up coaching because I enjoyed helping my team-mates while I was playing. We looked after one another. We would try to help out in the nets. When I finished, I was encouraged by Tim Boon at Leicester to do my coaching courses. He saw something in me. After that [the role at] Zimbabwe came up, first with the academy and then the national team. I was trying to understand what coaching at that level was about, especially trying to help players who have not been at the highest level. The initial days were all about learning, and then it got better and better.

You went to Ireland when they were an Associate side and you took them to World Cup campaigns in 2007, 2011 and 2015. You said that you learned about managing limited resources while coaching them.
Ireland was the best experience I had as a coach. It was wonderful working with their CEO, Warren Deutrom. Being able to put a vision in front of the players and then working with them towards that vision, it was an exciting time. It helped me get my coaching to the next level. The players were enthusiastic about learning, moving forward and getting better. They wanted to win against big countries who never gave them the time of day. Ireland weren’t competitive enough, so it was about getting competitive and winning against big countries.Do you feel differently when coaching West Indies, your home team, as compared to other teams?
I think when you coach West Indies, there’s a lot more emotions involved. It is a little bit harder to separate the emotion when you work for your own country. You want everything to go right immediately. The emotion is what makes it harder to control.How do you prepare a West Indies team full of superstars for a T20 World Cup campaign? Don’t they already know everything?
They know everything. They know about T20 cricket. As a coach, your job is to get everyone to understand the direction the team needs to go in. They play a lot, but they play for different franchises. It is about how you get everybody to understand that right now we are in this competition, and we need to play for one another in this competition. Next week or two weeks later, you are playing against each other.That’s the biggest challenge – to get everyone to play together in a short period of time and make sure they know that they have to look after each other in this tournament. It was the World Cup where all the big names were there. We knew we needed to win another title for the West Indies.”I think when you coach West Indies, there’s a lot more emotions involved. You want everything to go right immediately”•Getty ImagesYou joined Afghanistan in 2017 at a time when not a lot was known about cricket in the country.
I am extremely proud watching them in the two World Cups. I was a little bit surprised at how they played in the 50-over World Cup, where they played exceptionally well. Then in this last T20 World Cup in the USA and Caribbean, they showed what they can do. Every year someone new comes out of there to be the new superstar. It is an exciting time for them. I am proud of how they keep going forward.Your second stint with West Indies, from 2019 to 2022, had some highs and lows. Winning in Chattogram chasing nearly 400 in 2021 was a high, while not making it to the main draw of the 2022 T20 World Cup was obviously a low. How do you react to these two different situations?
There’s ups and downs in everything you do in life. How you get out from the downs has been one of my strengths. If you don’t do well in one tournament, it means you have done something wrong. You look forward to what you can change and what you can do right in the next tournament. I think we were way under par in the qualifiers for the World Cup. We didn’t deserve to be at the main draw. It is not hard for you to bounce back from that, because if you did everything right, you wouldn’t have missed out.When you talk about the Chattogram Test, we were so close as a unit. Covid brought us closer. I think that innings from Kyle Mayers [210 not out on debut] will be looked at for years as one of the best Test innings during a chase.Why would anyone want to coach an international side anymore in these days?
That’s a very good question. I think there’s a lot to coaching international teams. That’s the high of everything, particularly Test cricket. I think when you look at World Cups, they bring joy to the countries. Franchises bring joy to your supporters. It is still a big thing to coach international teams. A lot of coaches still think that way. Not everyone can do a franchise job, which is to get people to get better quickly. Whereas, you have a bit of time to put together at the international level.”Ireland was the best experience I had as a coach. It helped me get my coaching to the next level. They wanted to win against big countries who never gave them the time of day”•Deshkalyan Chowdhury/AFP/Getty ImagesHow easy or difficult is it to coach a franchise for six or eight weeks? What can a coach really do in that time?
You have to get the team to play together. Get the team to understand that we brought them here for different roles. When we put you in the team, we want you to play for us. Getting them in a short of period of time to understand that and make sure we are all going down the same road. At the end of the day, it doesn’t come together every time. Sometimes it comes together, and it is brilliant. Sometimes it doesn’t, you know.How has the role of the head coach changed since you started out, given the rise of analysts and the expansion in support staff?
I think it has changed a lot. When I started, I think I had one other coach with me in Zimbabwe and Ireland. I had to do a lot of the work. Now the head coach’s role has developed into more of a man manager and making sure you manage the players and coaching staff to give the team what it needs.Who do you rate highly as a cricket coach?
There are quite a few. When I first started, I spoke to John Buchanan and Bob Woolmer, God rest his soul. I would call them to ask about coaching in those early days. It is difficult [to answer] now, because you have so many different coaches out there. It is hard to judge coaches these days. You create success as a coach. You have to do different things for different teams. All coaches are good coaches, depending on how you get your team to perform.What sort of impact has working for 20 years in international cricket left on you?
It is a sense of fulfillment towards a sport that has made me who I am.

Yankees Announcer Rips Juan Soto for Reaction to All-Star Game Snub

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

In case you haven't heard, Juan Soto didn't make the All-Star Game in his debut season with the New York Mets. And he's not happy about it.

But instead of citing the on-field reasons why he's disappointed about missing out on the Midsummer Classic, Soto, who signed the largest deal in professional sports history at $765 million in February, was bummed due to missing out on a bonus in his contract.

"What do you think?" Soto said to a reporter who asked if he's disappointed he didn't make the All-Star Game. "I think it's a lot of money on the table [if I make it]."

Michael Kay wasn't a fan of his response. In fact, he initially thought Soto's comments were a cringy AI video until he saw that the official SNY account on X (formerly Twitter) posted the clip.

"Oh, goodness gracious. Talk about being tone deaf," Kay said on his radio show on ESPN New York. "C'mon, Juan. … You're making a smidge under $47 million this season. And you're upset you're not making the All-Star Game because of an All-Star bonus that you have in your contract? Do you know how bad that looks that you said that? … Do you even realize how that makes you look?"

Soto would have made an additional $100,000 if he was voted into the All-Star Game, according to the Associated Press.

Soto got off to a rough start in his Mets career, logging a .752 OPS in April and batting just .219 in May. But he was scorching hot in June, hitting .322/.474/.722 with 11 homers and 20 RBIs in 27 games, which was enough to earn him the NL Player of the Month honors.

Ronald Acuna Jr., Pete Crow-Armstrong and Kyle Tucker will start in the outfield for the National League, while Corbin Carroll, Kyle Stowers, Fernando Tatis Jr. and James Wood will serve as the reserve outfielders.

Soto, meanwhile, will have to watch the All-Star Game from his couch—with no $100,000 bonus in his pocket.

Wrexham lose Issa Kabore for the remainder of 2025 as Man City loanee suffers serious injury in Burkina Faso friendly

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson has confirmed that Issa Kabore suffered a serious hamstring injury while on international duty with Burkina Faso. Kabore will now spend time with parent club Manchester City to have treatment, and Wrexham have been informed of how long they can realistically expect him to be out.

Injury blow for Championship new boys

The injury came during Burkina Faso’s friendly with Benin, which the Les Etalons won 3-0 and the update on Kabore represents a massive blow for Parkinson, who has selected the wing-back in each of Wrexham's last ten matches. Kabore has played a key role in Wrexham's impressive start to their first season in the Championship since 1982. Parkinson will be cursing his luck after Burkina Faso arranged two friendlies after failing to qualify for the World Cup in controversial circumstances. 

The West African nation's hopes of playing in the USA, Canada and Mexico ended following Eritrea's withdrawal, which meant points and goals from games against the bottom-placed team in each qualifying group were voided to ensure fairness. But this cost Burkina Faso six points from their wins over Djibouti, while Nigeria only forfeited two from their draws with Zimbabwe. Nigeria ultimately advanced to the playoffs on a better goal difference after both teams finished with 15 points.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportParkinson: 'We'll get him back'

Parkinson said: "It is really unfortunate for Issa. He's obviously playing well and it looks like it is going to be at least a six-week injury. When I got the call over the break that Issa was injured, obviously it wasn't the best call to take from (physio) Kevin Mulholland. But it's always that risk when players are travelling long distances and playing, they can get an injury, and I'm sure there are other teams who will have lost players through this international break."

The Wrexham boss added: "Issa's been a great character to have with us and we'll get him back. It will be a combination of treatment from Manchester City, because he lives close to the training ground, and with us as well. Obviously, the Africa Cup of Nations is coming up as well. I've watched a couple of games and Issa seems to be one of the important players, but obviously he's got to be fit and that's going to be touch and go."

Premier League ambitions for Red Dragons

While there is still a long way to go this season, another 31 matches over the next six months, Wrexham's senior management team remain clear in their number one target: securing Premier League football. And this week CEO Michael Williamson explained why co-owners and Hollywood superstars Ryan Reynolds, Rob Mac and the rest of the club's board are already planning for life in the top flight.

Williamson said: "I felt if we were in that kind of position in the table, that if we gave ourselves a chance to make a run for a play-off spot and then ultimately if we were in the play-offs, with the momentum we have and the mentality that this group has and the mentality that our supporters have, I know we haven't done historically well in play-offs but I felt that this was one of those situations where I wouldn't put anything by us. 

"The objective was to be competitive and to show that we could go toe-to-toe with any club in the Championship and so far this season, that's what you've seen. In fact, I'd argue that you could see us with several more points if you look at some of the matches where we've had leads that we've given it up for a draw or even starting from the very first one at Southampton where we gave up a goal in the 89th and the 95th minute to lose three points or even one point there. 

"I think we could definitely be higher in the table than we are today but the important part is that we've shown that it doesn't matter which club we're playing against in this league, we can go to toe-to-toe with anyone and come out ahead of it. From my perspective now, how do we build on and off the pitch to prepare ourselves for when that time comes that we do arrive to the Premier League? It's ultimately our objective, I think everyone is clear of that by now."

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Growing club with a big "heart"

Reynolds has recently praised his club’s "heart" following the impressive 1-0 win over Charlton Athletic. Josh Windass’ penalty extended the Red Dragons' unbeaten run to five matches and lifted them to 13th in the Championship, with 21 points from 15 matches, just four points off the play-off spots.

West Ham ready to sell "fast" summer signing in surprise January decision

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

West Ham are braced for an all-important January transfer window that may well define Nuno Espírito Santo’s first season in charge, with David Sullivan, Karren Brady and the Hammers board poised to back their new manager.

Following back-to-back Premier League wins and the first time they’ve won two straight home games since 2024, things are finally starting to click into gear for Nuno.

The Portuguese tinkered heavily with his first West Ham starting line-ups before finally discovering a winning formula against both Newcastle and Burnley, with Nuno naming an unchanged side for both matches as the east Londoners secured vital victories.

However, West Ham reportedly have no intention of resting on their laurels, and credible reports suggest that Nuno has been told they have a transfer budget to spend in the winter (Sky Sports).

Sunderland 3-0 West Ham

West Ham 1-5 Chelsea

Nottingham Forest 0-3 West Ham

West Ham 0-3 Tottenham

West Ham 1-2 Crystal Palace

Everton 1-1 West Ham

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

West Ham 0-2 Brentford

Leeds 2-1 West Ham

West Ham 3-1 Newcastle

West Ham 3-2 Burnley

Niclas Füllkrug’s damning injury record and lacklustre spell at the London Stadium is paving the way for him to leave in January, and it is believed that West Ham are actively targeting a striker to potentially replace the German.

While Callum Wilson has done well in West Ham’s last two games, even getting on the scoresheet against Burnley, Nuno won’t be too comfortable relying on the 33-year-old given his own torrid fitness record.

West Ham also want a new defender, and potentially a midfielder if they can manage it (Sky Sports), but it is worth noting that they won’t have a bottomless pit of cash for January either, according to journalist Dean Jones.

The potential sales of Fullkrug, Guido Rodriguez and James Ward-Prowse could be crucial when it comes to raising funds, with all three players linked to the West Ham exit door and seemingly not part of Nuno’s long-term plans.

According to journalist Graeme Bailey, in an interview with Hammers News, they could also make the surprise decision to sell another squad member who’s only just arrived.

West Ham now ready to sell summer signing Mads Hermansen

Goalkeeper Mads Hermansen swapped Leicester for the London Stadium in a £20 million deal last summer, putting pen to paper on a five-year deal in August, but the Dane has since lost his place in the starting eleven to Alphonse Areola.

He started West Ham’s first four games of the season, conceding 11 league goals in total, with Areola seizing the number one spot back and West Ham now pondering a shock January call.

According to Bailey, West Ham are ready to cash in on Hermansen if the opportunity arises, but could also send him out on loan to get minutes elsewhere before returning.

If the 25-year-old were to leave permanently already, it would mark one of the shortest stints of any new West Ham player in recent memory, but would it be the right move?

Hermansen’s had just four games to showcase his worth in a turbulent side who seem likely to be battling relegation, and the shot-stopper is still very young in goalkeeping years. His prime is still to come, and goalkeeping coaches like Casper Ankergren have revered the former Leicester star as a serious talent between the sticks.

No rush, just Russ: measured mayhem is KKR's new mantra

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Knowing a pace buffet was around the corner, he swallowed his pride, saw the bigger picture, and waited for the chance to go berserk

Sreshth Shah04-May-20250:55

Martin: Russell was banking on taking on the pace bowlers

Andre Russell has built a reputation of being someone possessed with extraordinary abilities with the bat. That’s why he remains at the centre of every conversation about Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). When KKR’s top order does well and Russell faces only a handful of balls, questions are raised about why his potential was left unused. If he’s sent in too early, critics wonder why a world-class finisher is being exposed ahead of time. And when KKR collapse and even Russell can’t save them, the inevitable question returns: where has the old Russell gone?So when Russell walked out at No. 5 in the 13th over with the score 111 for 3 against Rajasthan Royals (RR), a ripple of part-surprise, part-excitement flowed through the sparse Saturday crowd at Eden Gardens.In the first ten games this season, Russell had batted, on average, 7.8 balls per innings and scored only 72 runs in 55 balls. It was an unusual point of entry for him since it was neither time for him to play the death-overs blitz nor for a back-to-the-wall rescue. He had deliveries to work with, the team was in a promising position, and with that came the uneasy thrill of the unexpected.Related

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But Russell had spin to contend with first. Recent memories of Russell against wristspin – stumps rattled by googlies or sliced dismissals against the legbreak – don’t paint a pretty picture, but those dismissals need context. KKR often found themselves chasing the improbable, or with too few balls left, forcing him into the zone of attempting big shots blindly.This time, he was afforded the rare luxury of building an innings. And his plan for the day was evident from the first ball he faced, bringing out an exaggerated front-foot block off Riyan Parag. His first nine balls earned just two runs as he saw off a tricky Maheesh Theekshana over with one defensive shot and a few balls left out that were zipping past his outside edge.Off Wanindu Hasaranga, who has a lethal googly, he got away from strike in his first opportunity, and when he had to face the spinner one last time, he brought out the block again to see off the final delivery of Hasaranga’s night. Once the pacers returned, so did the Russell we know. He crunched 55 off the next 16 balls he faced to finish unbeaten on 57 off 25, lifting KKR to 206 for 4.

“I just think once you look at the overs and see five overs, you don’t think about five overs. You think about 30 balls, and if you faced 15 out of that with my power, I think I can get maybe 40 runs from those 15 balls”Andre Russell

“I wasn’t worried when I saw the scoreboard and saw I was on two runs off eight deliveries. I never worry about a few dot balls here and there,” Russell said after the KKR innings. “I realised the wicket was getting a bit of grip, especially Theekshana. I didn’t want to take a risk so early.”My strong point is to get away the spinners as much as possible, but in the first part they were bowling in good areas so I didn’t want to play a risky shot early because I know what I can do in the back end.”Saturday’s innings was a reminder that Russell is more than just a slogger. Everyone knows it, but circumstances can sometimes betray the nuance in his game. Since 2022, he averages 22.70 and strikes at 140.12 against all types of wristspin in T20s. He’s not uncomfortable against spin, just short on time sometimes. On this day, knowing a pace buffet was around the corner, Russell swallowed his pride, saw the bigger picture, and waited. With four of the final five overs set to come from the quicks, he later admitted he was “licking his lips” for the overs that would follow.ESPNcricinfo LtdHe tore into Akash Madhwal in the 16th over by mauling a six over cow corner, sandwiched between boundaries through square leg and cover. Never one to shy away from a contest, Jofra Archer came roaring in next, searching for two million-dollar deliveries. But he missed his length by mere inches, and Russell, deep in his crease, drilled a four and a six straight back past the bowler.One over from Theekshana still remained – the 18th – but by then, Russell was well set. Defending was out of the picture. He faced only the last three balls of the spinner’s final over, and sent each one soaring into the stands: over midwicket, down the ground, and beyond long-off. The Eden crowd had turned electric, Russell fed off the noise, and in the space of two overs, the conversation about the potential total had shifted. It was no longer about scraping to 180, but more about storming past 200.A flicked six off an Archer full toss in the 19th over brought up his first fifty of the season in 22 balls. There was one more four off Archer to follow – a pull – before Rinku Singh helped hammer 22 runs off the final over with three big hits of his own.After the game, Russell said he broke his plan down not by overs remaining but by deliveries left.1:24

Rayudu: Royals should have persisted with spin against Russell

“I think the scoreboard is the best indicator,” Russell said while collecting his 16th IPL Player-of-the-Match award. “Playing so many games, you know these type of situations – which bowlers to come, who you can target, and who to take down. I just think once you look at the overs and see five overs, you don’t think about five overs. You think about 30 balls, and if you faced 15 out of that with my power, I think I can get maybe 40 runs from those 15 balls.”Such ability is the reason why KKR have never let Russell go since signing him as a 26-year-old in 2014. He’s long wanted a higher batting slot, dating back to Brendon McCullum’s tenure in 2019, but the opportunities have been rare . However, a combination of poor form for Venkatesh Iyer and Ramandeep Singh and everything to play for meant KKR put the trust in the second-most experienced T20 player of all time and the result makes one think why it hasn’t been the case more often.”We all knew about the importance of this game,” Russell said. “When you have four games to go and it’s like four finals you have to leave everything on the park and that’s what I did tonight.”This was Russell at his near best: patient, powerful and perfectly timed. It was also a clear message for KKR for the games to follow. With three must-win matches to follow, surely this is the template for the remainder of the season.

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